Customer Reviews

The Rancher's Rules (Harlequin Presents Marriage and Mistletoe)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I so enjoyed this book.......I laughed, I cried and found it to be the perfect Holiday read. Zoe Jensen's character was fun, invigorating, dear, just plain sweet and not the usual woman in a Harlequin Presents novel. Her love for life, animals and her Kindergarten students was endearing and her secret crush on her best friend Grant Cortez will squeeze your heart.

Grant and Zoe have grown up together and during their later years have had two "sexy" encounters which left Zoe hurt and embarrassed because all of her life she has secretly loved Grant. Their relationship in spite of everything remained in tact and they consider themselves best friends.

Zoe has never felt she's belonged as her parents made it clear the son they lost should have run their ranch. When her father decides to retire, he sells the ranch to Grant, leaving Zoe without a home. She understands that she would never have been a rancher due to her love for animals, being a vegetarian, plus her non-relationship with her family, well she feels abandoned and unloved with the exception of the one man she can always count on, her best friend Grant.

Grant has the responsibly of running the family ranch and business as his father and stepmother have moved to another state due to his father's health. For years, he has watched over Zoe, has been her closest friend and truly adores her. Now Grant finds himself not only thinking more about her but also fights a physical attraction for Zoe. On top of everything else, he now finds himself having to take care of her as she's been evicted from her apartment because of all of her pets....cats, birds, dogs, hamster.

Now they find themselves in a bad situation and where will Zoe live? With Grant? Because of spending more time together they find themselves doing the one thing that Grant has a rule against.....the NO kissing rule, yet on a few occasions, the rule is broken. They both fight the attraction but in the end give in and then decisions need to be made.....should they take it a step further and explore their feelings?

You will absolutely adore this wonderful story, not only due to it's warmth and humour but the magical journey itself.......falling in love and the miracle of Christmas for these two lovers.

I had high hopes for this story, but it just fell short. I had trouble identifying with the heroine, Zoe. She came accross too vulnerable and little on the "easy" side. This story sort of wore me out and never really drew me in.

I so thoroughly enjoyed this book and these characters. I'm such a sucker for these storylines, too (best friends). Zoe and Grant are a great pairing, and they comlemented each other so perfectly. This book was so much fun to read and really did pull on my heart strings. As a long time reader of romance, I knew they'd get their happy ending, but I sure did enjoy the journey. This one will go on my keeper shelf to enjoy again and again.

I have read this book more times than I can count. I got it on ebook and had to order the hard copy so I could read it more often.

It's a sweet story of friendship deepening into something more, which I too am a real sucker for.

Zoe is a great character, a vegetarian animal lover who grew up on a beef ranch, and who can hold her own against Grant, her best friend and un-asked for protecter, who she has been in love with for years.

Some of the situations are laugh out loud hilarious, while the romance is true and sweet.

Us Oregonians also appreciate the Tillamook cheese reference! Thanks Lucy!

For a Harelquin, this is one of the better ones. I don't read them often because they rarely match my expectations based on the premise, but this one does a nice job all around. Sweet and simply about love.

Grant Cortez has been looking out for Zoe Jensen since they were kids. He has been her protector and her best friend, but what he really wants is to be her lover. He won't admit it to himself or Zoe though, so he attempts to keep their relationship strictly platonic.

Zoe has always loved Grant but he treats he like a sister. After they share a kiss, and then another though, their relationship changes. Zoe thinks she may finally get what she has always wanted, but what if Grant pushes her away forever this time?

Grant and Zoe's close and long-term relationship in The Rancher's Rules is endearing. They are really good together and I loved watching their relationship grow and change. The Rancher's Rules is a romantic and sensual story with a heart warming ending.

Nannette
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed